HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-14 - ORDINANCES - ZONE CHANGE 02-002 RIVERPARK (2)ORDINANCE NO. 05-7
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ZONE CHANGE NO. 02-002
(MASTER CASE 02-175) FOR THE RIVERPARK PROJECT SITE LOCATED ON
695.4 ACRES OF LAND AT THE TERMINUS OF NEWHALL RANCH ROAD,
EAST OF BOUQUET CANYON ROAD BETWEEN THE CASTAIC LAKE
WATER AGENCY PROPERTY AND SOLEDAD CANYON ROAD
RECITALS:
a. The applicant, The Newhall Land and Farming Company, formally requested
certain project entitlements related to the Riverpark project on May 10, 2002
(Master Case 02-175). The entitlement requests included General Plan
Amendment 02-002, Zone Change 02-002, Vesting Tentative Tract Map 53425,
Conditional Use Permit 02-009, Hillside Review 02-003, Oak Tree
Permit 02-025, and Adjustment 02-010.
b. An Environmental Impact Report, State Clearinghouse No. 2002091081 (EIR),
has been prepared, circulated in compliance with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), and certified as required by CEQA.
C. The Planning Commission held duly noticed public hearings on the Riverpark
project entitlements on March 2, April 20, April 29, May 13, May 18, June 15,
June 29, July 20, and August 31, 2004. The Planning Commission closed the
public hearing on August 31, 2004, and made a motion to direct staff to return to
the October 5, 2004 meeting with resolutions recommending certification of the
Environmental Impact Report and recommending the approval of the project,
subject to several modifications, all of which were agreed to by the
applicant. These modifications included:
i. Relocation of the bank stabilization in the area from the western border of
the active/passive park site in the east to the westem-most commercial
parcel in the west, to preserve the mature riparian resources along the edge
of the Santa Clara River and create the Draft EIR-recommended 100 -foot
upland preserve in that area, excluding the portion affected by the
proposed extension of Newhall Ranch Road, the alignment for which is
fixed and cannot be modified.
ii. Relocation of the equestrian trail in the area adjacent to the Los Angeles
Aqueduct from the river bottom to the pedestrian/bike trail, widening of
the pedestrian/bike bridge abutments to accommodate a 35 -foot multi-
purpose trail, and widening of the pedestrian/bike bridge over the
aqueduct from 15' to 20' to accommodate equestrian traffic, as well as all
other trail users.
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 2
iii. Subject to CLWA approval, installation of a temporary trail from the
Riverpark project boundary north of Newhall Ranch Road near Santa
Clarita Parkway to an established dirt trail accessing Central Park.
iv. Installation of two guzzlers along the Santa Clara River for enhancement
of this identified wildlife corridor.
V. Enhancement of the L.A. Aqueduct Pipeline corridor under Newhall
Ranch Road for its potential use for on-site wildlife mobility.
vi. Installation of enhanced landscaping along the new segment of Newhall
Ranch Road.
vii. Construction of the Newhall Ranch Road/Golden Valley Road Bridge and
bridge abutments in conformity with the City's Cross Valley Connector
Aesthetics' Guideline Book.
viii. Contribution of 25% of the costs associated with the construction of a
pedestrian bridge over Newhall Ranch Road.
ix. Although the width of the right-of-way will be maintained, the number of
improved vehicle lanes on Santa Clarita Parkway shall be reduced from
six lanes to two lanes, and approval of the project shall be conditioned on
the applicant installing enhanced landscaping along Santa Clarita Parkway
to further buffer the proposed adjacent residential units from roadway
noise.
X. Conversion of the internal streets in Planning Areas Al, B and C from
public to private streets, to be privately owned and maintained by the
homeowner's association, but built to public street standards.
xi. The right to gate the internal streets in Planning Areas Al, B, and C, in
compliance with all of the City's requirements related to vehicular gating
including stacking and turn around areas.
xii. Revisions to the park plan recommended by the City's Parks and
Recreation Commission, including:
1. Relocating the drainage to the western boundary of the active area
of the park, so that it would no longer drain through the park site
and bisect the active area;
2. Changing the shape of the active park, and widening it to create the
best use of the developed active park;
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 3
3. Relocation of five homes to the other side of street `M' to provide
over 300 feet of additional street frontage;
4. Addition of a drivable pathway to allow police and emergency
vehicles a route to pass through the park;
5. Adjustment of the southern grade of the active park to bring the
grade of the park to closer to street level, resulting in the relocation
of two non -heritage oak trees within the developed portion of the
park; and
6. Relocation of the private recreation area in Planning Al to a
location adjacent to the public park.
xiii. Conversion of the proposed residential units (420) in Area C from
apartments to townhomes/condominiums resulting in the reduction in the
number of units in Planning Area C from 420 to 380, for a reduction of 40
residential units in that Planning Area.
xiv. Elimination of the grading on the nose of the ridgeline facing the Emblem
neighborhood (to the north of the western portion of the site), as a result of
which the proposed apartment buildings in Planning Area D will be
relocated farther south, away from the Emblem neighborhood, and, in
addition, a decorative wall with landscaping will be built from the area
between the existing commercial wall to the nose of the ridge. The
Commission also recommended the addition of a restriction on lot 526 of
Vesting Tentative Tract Map 53425 (Riverpark) prohibiting grading,
building, structures or parking on this lot.
xv. Inclusion of additional dedications of open space, including:
1. Dedication of open space adjacent to Central Park;
2. Dedication of approximately 30 acres of the South Fork of the
Santa Clara River located between Valencia Boulevard and Magic
Mountain Parkway, including the adjacent upland area; and
3. Dedication of approximately 100 acres of the South Fork of the
Santa Clara River from the Magic Mountain Parkway Bridge
south to the Wiley Canyon Bridge.
xvi. Modification of Adjustment 02-010 to eliminate the request for reduced
lot sizes, lot widths and driveway lengths, and incorporation of
recommendations made by RRM Design Group where front yard setbacks
are reduced to 16 feet.
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 4
xvii. After project approval, the applicant will bring the final elevations and
development plot plans for the Riverpark development back to the
Planning Commission for its approval.
d. After continuing the matter on October 5 and November 16, 2004, on
December 21, 2004, the Planning Commission adopted a recommendation that the
City Council consider and certify the EIR and the Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program, and adopt a Statpment of Overriding Considerations for those
impacts of the project that cannot be mitigated to less than significant levels, by
Resolution No. PO4-31, adopted on December 21, 2004. The Planning
Commission also recommended that the City Council approve General Plan
Amendment 02-002, Zone Change 02-002, Vesting Tentative Tract Map 53425,
Conditional Use Permit 02-009, Hillside Review 02-003, Oak Tree
Permit 02-025, and Adjustment 02-010 by Resolution No. PO4-32, adopted on
December 21, 2004. Notice of all public hearings was given in the manner
required by the City of Santa Clarita Municipal Code and State law.
e. The City Council held duly noticed public hearings on the Riverpark entitlements
on January 25 and continuing on March 22, 2005. The City Council closed the
public hearing on March 22, 2005, but reopened it for limited purposes on
May 24, 2005, and then closed the public hearing on that same date. On
March 22, 2005, the City Council recommended, and the applicant agreed, to
further modify the project, including the following major revisions:
i. Conversion of the proposed residential units (420) in Area D from
apartments to townhomes/condominiums, resulting in the reduction in the
number of units in Planning Area C from 324 to 277, for a total reduction
of 47 units in that Planning Area.
ii. Addition of 13 single-family residential units in Planning Area A-1, for a
total of 213 single-family units in that Planning Area.
iii. Donation of the following additional off-site property:
1. Approximately 141 acres of land, including approximately
37 acres of Significant Ecological Area for the Santa Clara River,
located directly east of Interstate 5 and directly north of Magic
Mountain Parkway and referred to as the Round Mountain
Property.
2. Approximately 30 acres of the South Fork of the Santa Clara River
between the Wiley Canyon Road Bridge over the South Fork of the
Santa Clara River to Orchard Village Road.
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 5
3. Approximately 2.6 acres of land located at Newhall Ranch Road
and Grandview Drive.
4. Accept the applicant's donation to the City of 24.27 acres out of
the 61.1 acres of the North Valencia 2 Upland Preserve Area (as
defined in Paragraph 6 of Section III, subsection B, of the North
Valencia 2 Project Annexation and Development
Agreement 98-001). ,
iv. Elimination of the Planning Commission recommendation requiring the
applicant to pay for 25% of the cost of a pedestrian bridge over Newhall
Ranch Road.
V. Require the applicant to pay for costs (not to exceed $30,000) associated
with the construction of a "Saugus Community Identification Sign" to be
located on an off-site property.
vi. Require the applicant to grade the full right-of-way for the Cross Valley
Connector (Newhall Ranch Road) from Bouquet Canyon Road to the
Newhall Ranch Road/Golden Valley Road Bridge over the Santa Clara
River prior to occupancy of the 500th unit.
vii. Require the applicant to dedicate the full right-of-way width for Newhall
Ranch Road, including the Newhall Ranch Road/Golden Valley Road
Bridge, and Golden Valley Road upon recordation of the first map.
viii. Require the applicant to develop a comprehensive funding program,
subject to the approval of the Director of Engineering and Building
Services, for the construction of the full width of roadway and bridge
improvements for Newhall Ranch Road from Bouquet Canyon Road to the
Soledad Canyon Road flyover (presently being constructed). The funding
program for the construction of this roadway shall be consistent with the
project approval and shall be in place no later than the date the City has
completed the design for the Newhall Ranch Road/Golden Valley Road
Bridge over the Santa Clara River and is ready to bid that project.
ix. Require the applicant to dedicate 5.0 acres of land and construct the on-
site 29 -acre park as provided in the project conditions. The applicant or
designee shall receive credit for any amount expended in excess of the
project's remaining Quimby Obligation.
The Riverpark project as modified would thus subdivide 695.4 acres into
432 single-family lots, 5 multi -family lots, a one -acre commercial parcel, and lots
for recreation/parks, utilities, roadways and open space, and consist of
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 6
1,089 residential dwelling units, a maximum of 16,000 square feet of commercial
space, and approximately 389 on-site acres and approximately 318 off-site acres
of open space to be dedicated or donated to the City.
f. All public hearings and meetings on the Riverpark project were held by the City
Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m, in the City Council Chambers, located at
23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, with the exception of the June 29
hearing which commenced at 6:OQ p.m., and the August 31 hearing which
commenced at 5:30 p.m. All public hearings and meetings on the Riverpark
project were held by the City Council at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers,
located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita. All public hearings were
advertised in the The Signal newspaper, and by direct first-class mail to property
owners within 600 feet of the project area. In addition, the date and time of each
public hearing was posted on two signs at the project site.
FINDINGS. Based on the above findings of fact and recitals and the entire record, including,
without limitation, the entire Riverpark project E1R, oral and written testimony and other
evidence received at the public hearings held on the Riverpark project and the Riverpark project
EIR by the Planning Commission and the City Council, reports and other transmittals from City
staff to the Planning Commission and to the City Council, and upon studies and investigations
made by the Planning Commission and the City Council, and on behalf of each, the City Council
finds, as follows:
a. The proposed Zone Change to change the zoning of the Riverpark project site,
located at the terminus of Newhall Ranch Road, east of Bouquet Canyon Road
between the Castaic Lake Water Agency property and Soledad Canyon Road,
from RM (Residential Medium), IC (Industrial Commercial), CO -PD
(Commercial Office with a Planned Development Overlay), CC -PD (Community
Commercial with a Planned Development Overlay), and MHP (Mobile Home
Park) to RM -PD (Residential Medium Planned Development) and CC -PD
(Community Commercial Planned Development), as shown on Exhibit A, is
consistent with the objectives of the Unified Development Code, the City's
General Plan, and the development policies of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California, does
hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby approves Zone Change 02-002 to change the
zoning of the Riverpark project site to RM -PD (Residential Medium Planned
Development) and CC -PD (Community Commercial Planned Development). A map of
the zone change is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day
after adoption.
Ordinance No. 05-7
Page 7
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify as to the passage of this Ordinance and cause
it to be published in the manner prescribed by law.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 14`h day of June, 2005.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Ordinance No. 05-7 was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the 24`h day of May, 2005. That thereafter, said
Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 14`h day
of June, 2005, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Kellar, Ferry, McLean, Weste, Smyth
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
)
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
)
CERTIFICATION OF
CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true
and correct copy of the original Ordinance No. 05-7, adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Clarita, CA on June 14, 2005, which is now on file in my office.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this _ day of
20_.
Sharon L. Dawson, CMC
City Clerk
By
Susan Coffman
Deputy City Clerk
CL
m
Q
E
•�
a
�-
i
W
Cn
`oo
0
O
N